When a student walked past my brother and yelled the "r-word" (retard) at Kevin and his classmates, I knew I had to stand up for my brother. I avoided physical confrontation, but I used my most powerful weapon -- my voice.

Being kind, being nice, treating others the way you want to be treated, and not hiding behind a computer screen to tear down others anonymously -- it all sounds too simple. At the end of the day, your offline personality should reflect your online demeanor.

Last week's Halloween, the last day in the month of October also happens to be the last day of National Bullying Prevention Month. Coincidentally, last week's nationally-televised NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals served as a fitting stage for this issue which is gaining heightened awareness.

Yes, bullying happens and yes, it can be bad, but the last thing we need is to create the impression that its common because if it's common it must be normal and if it's normal it must be okay. It's not normal and it's not okay.

October is National Bullying Awareness Month, and as we ask our children and our schools to prevent bullying, we ought to take a hard look at ourselves too. Recent attacks on an overweight female Wisconsin TV anchor -- and her response -- illustrate the point.